The Brookhaven leader., 1887-07-14
A RASCAL DISCOVERED.


A Trusted OmciaI Of the Treasury Depart
ment Discovered Defraudlng the Cow
ernment by Systematic Forgery and
Prosecution ~ Fraudulent Claims for
His own Benefit
WASHINGTON, June 9-By direction OF
the Secretary Of the Treasury, charges
were preferred before the district attor-
ney yesterday against Oscar J. Harvey,
of Pennsylvania, a trusted official OF the
Treasury Department, of originating
fraudulent claims against the Govern
ment and, by fOrgcrics and other lr-
regulartics, passing the claims through
tho department and securing their pay
ment for his own benefit. In 1885 Harvey
was appointed chief Of the division OF
horse claims in the Third Auditors office,
position which he retained until recent.
ly, when he was transferred to similar
position in the Second Comptroler's Of
fee In the horse claims division he was
succeeded by Austin H. Brown, of In
dianapolis.
Shortly after taking charge Of the divi-
sion, Mr.. Browns attention was attract
cd TO the similarity Of hand writing in a
number Of claims, and other suSpic ouS
circumstances, leading him to believe that
whoiesali sFstem Of forgery and
fraudulent prosecution of claims had
been carried on. He reported MS suspi-
cions 10 Secretary Fairchi'd. After addi'
tional evidence had been collected the
case assumed such shape that
it was put in the hahds oi
the secret service division. Chlel
Brooks pursued the investigation, and sat
isfed himself that fortv-three fraudulehC
claims d g coating 80 200 had been pre-
sented, passed through the office ana car
ried to the final stages. He suspected
| Harvey of having devised, carried out
and profitad by these claims. he was
convinced that the letters upon Nu.-u
these claims were based, and subsequent
| stamps, Endorsements, signatures, etc.'
were fraud llcnt. The claims were all OF
similar nature, all growing out OF the
loss cf horses during The war.
Thursday the matter had progressed
| far enou gh to Justify a search of Harvey's 3
| house, and here papers were found Ia 3lo
| additional claim cases, mot yet presented
to the department, as we'll as other evi
| dence justifving Harvey's arrest. Har-
vey left Washingto about the first in
stant, on a short vacation, and left
Wilk sbarre, Pa, Thursday night to re-
turn here. He was shadowed by officers
! of the secret service, who have kept him
under surveillance since he was hrst sus
| pected.
On his arrival here Yesterday morning,
| he WAS arrested He asked to see the
secretary and Mr. Fairchild consented to
see him District-Attorney WOrthington
was sent for, and Mr.. Harvey saw the
secretary in his presence. He was very
much depressed i'll spirits and seemed to
be very penitent. When he was Informed
of the evidence against him he broke
down completely and made full confess
sion of his guilt. He admitted not only
that the papers on which the claims were
based were fraudulent AMI the sigma
lures forged, but that the STAINING CT the
Quartermaster-G General, Second Audi
tors Office, were counterfeit and had bee u
procured and used by him. He further
stated that he had no accomplice in
any OF the transactions, and that the
whole scheme had been concocted by
himself He had been driven to it, he
sad, by pecuniary necessities brou ght
upon him by man with whom he had
been in partnership, and who, ever since
he received his appointment in the
treasury, had goaded him on to make the
most of his opportunities. This man, he
said, pretended to have a criminal hold
on him, but he did not really have any. 1t
was TINS, ne SAD, tnat nau leu MIN lnto
tie trouble, and brought him face to face
with the penitentiarY. MY partner"
concludo d the prisoner, "to me l had a
good office, and that | could raise the
money he wanted. l did it, and now see
what has come of it.'
Harvey was taken before the police court
yesterday. He waived examination,
and was committed to Jail for the action
of the grand jury in default of bail, which
was fixed at So, 900. He is described as a
man of unusual intellectual attainments 5
and as having secured the unlimited con-
fdence OF his superior officers. He has
a family residing in Washington.
1t is stated that Harvey was appointed
chief of division in the Third Auditor 8
cf1re through the intercession of William
f. Smith, of New York, before the latter
became Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury. Harvey was a classmate of Mr.
Smith, and his appoint mont was ordered
by Secretary Maaning over the united an |
vigorous protest of Congressmen Randall
and CGrtn, who did not con-
slider Htrvev of sufi lent Importance
in Pennsy vania politics to receive
such position. It is also cha ged that
Harvey was publican, but this is de-
MED.